Our Therapists

Clinical Staff

Alicia Bunch Vargas, LCSW, RPT, Clinical Director & Bilingual Therapist (she/her/hers)

Alicia has been with SAC since 2014. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in Nashville and her Bachelors in Family and Human Services from John Brown University. She is trained in Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Level 1 and 2 trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Level 1 certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Alicia has local experience working as an advocate for survivors of human trafficking in Nashville and working with offenders at the John School in Nashville. Alicia sees children, adolescents and adults in her practice, including Spanish-speaking clients. Alicia also provides counseling at the Hispanic Family Foundation on Thursdays.

Stefanie Golper, M.S., Clinical Coordinator & Therapist (she/her/hers)

Stefanie joined SAC in January 2022. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University in Political Science, a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis, and a Master of Science in Lipscomb University in Professional Counseling. Stefanie has been volunteering in the rape crisis arena for over twenty years. She has varied clinical experiences including intensive outpatient treatment for addiction disorders and co-occuring mental health issues, intensive in-home child and family therapy, school-based counseling in two elementary schools, and providing treatment to juveniles in a residental facility. Stefanie has training in: Somatic and Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (SAFE EMDR); Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Treatment Model; Psychological First Aid; Play Therapy (both directive and non-directive); and Expressive Arts Therapy. In her practice, Stefanie also utlizes: Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); mindfulness practices; and varied somatic techniques. She sees adults, non-offending caregeivers, adolescents, and children at SAC. Stefanie is dedicated to providing individualized, holistic treatment to underserved populations, particularly children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma. She is currently in the process of obtaining her license as a professional counselor -- a mental health service provider -- in Tennessee.

Yadira Gonzalez, LPC-MHSP(Temp), NCC., Clinical Coordinator & Bilingual Clinical and First Response Therapist (she/her/hers)

Yadira joined SAC in January 2022. She is a Clinical Cooridnator, First Response Therapist and Bilingual Clinical Therapist at SAC. She received her Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology from Ashford University, and her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health from Lipscomb University. Yadira has experience in community mental health, crisis, immigrant/refugee, child sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, and other complex trauma. Yadira has received specialized training in trauma-informed, attachment-based modalities including Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Internal Family System (IFS), Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Circle of Security (COSP) and Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Yadira also uses mindfulness and energy healing techniques in her practices. Yadira is originally from Puerto Rico and is bilingual in Spanish. She primarily sees Spanish-Speaking children, adolescents, and non-offending caregivers. She is also part of the Hispanic Client Services team at SAC and is passionate about serving and bringing awareness on the impact of sexual violence in the Latinx/Hispanic community.

Alex Damiano, LPC-MHSP, NCC, MT-BC, Clinical Coordinator & Sex Positive Outreach (she/they)

Alex has been with SAC since 2017. They received their Masters of Education in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and their Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy from Ohio University. Alex is trained in Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Level 1 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and they practice from an anti-oppressive and harm-reductionist framework. In addition to their work in the anti-sexual violence field, Alex’s experience also includes serving clients in hospice agencies, acute psychiatric care facilities, public schools, and teaching soon-to-be counselors in the university setting. At SAC, Alex supports a small team of talented clinicians and serves adult and adolescent clients – with a specialty in gender-affirming, sex-positive care.

 

Clinical Therapists

Eric S. Fogle, LPC-MHSP, Senior Clinical Therapist and Intake & Clinical Internship Coordinator (he/him/his)

Eric has been with SAC since 1993. He received his undergraduate degree from Lipscomb University and his graduate degree from Tennessee State.  His previous experience has been with rural mental health, family counseling focused on teenage issues, and with children in foster care. Eric has received specialized training in Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and is Level 1 trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Eric sees children, adolescents, adults, partners, non-offending caregivers in his practice.

Lisa Lyons, LCSW, Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

Lisa has been with SAC since 2003. She has a certification in the “mind-body” connection and incorporates body healing with the healing of emotions and spirit. Lisa is certified in EMDR Level II (as well as Comprehensive Resource Modeling – a form of brain spotting) and Hypnotherapy, has worked at an intensive outpatient level with eating disorders and is DBT certified. Lisa specializes in working with adult men and women abused as children. She also works with those who have been raped, are non-offending parents, as well as with adolescents in her practice.

Bianca Younan, LPC-MHSP, Bilingual Clinical Therapist & Hispanic Client Services Outreach (she/her/hers)

Bianca has been with SAC since 2017. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and her Master of Science degree in clinical psychology from California State University, Fullerton. She has experience in community mental health, rape crisis, and domestic violence work. She utilizes evidence-based interventions including; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Art/Play Therapy, and utilizes mindfulness techniques as well. Bianca is multicultural and bilingual in Spanish. She has joined the team as a bilingual clinical therapist at SAC’s main office and at Hispanic Family Foundation. Bianca primarily sees Spanish-speaking adolescents and adults in her practice. She is also part of the Hispanic Client Services team at SAC and is passionate about serving and bringing awareness on the impact of sexual violence in the Latinx/Hispanic community.

Kate Larson, Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

Kate has been with SAC since 2017. She completed a Master of Science in Social Work and Graduate Certificate in Trauma Treatment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Kate has prior experience in survivor advocacy, crisis intervention, and college and university student support services. Kate uses a client-focused, strengths perspective and has training in evidence-based interventions including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Mindfulness practices. Kate is fully trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is currently working towards certification in Somatic and Attachment- Focused (S.A.F.E.) EMDR. Kate is passionate about working with survivors of sex trafficking and commercial exploitation and those with a history of substance use disorders. In her clinical practice she sees adolescent and adult clients affected by sexual violence.

Julia Melton, LPC-MHSP, Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

Julia started at SAC as an intern and has been an official member of the team since 2018. She received her master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults and non-offending caregivers. She has received training in Hypnotherapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), ARC (attachment, self-regulation, and competency), and child-centered play therapy. She strives to be an ally for all identities and is very passionate about empowering people to feel comfortable in their bodies and reclaiming their sexuality. 

Tara Booker, Contract Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

 

Ana Arévalo, M.MFT, Bilingual Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

Ana has been with SAC since 2021. She has a Bachelors in Psychology from Universidad Iberoamericana and received her Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Lipscomb University with a concentration in Play Therapy. She is multicultural and bilingual in English and Spanish, she does most of her therapeutic work with Latinx survivors and non-offending caregivers, and she leads the Spanish group Tu Cuerpo, Tu Hogar for teen & adult Latina-identifying survivors. She utilizes an evidence-based approach that includes Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other mindfulness-based interventions, and she is trained as a yoga teacher (RYT-200). Ana is part of the Hispanic Client Services at SAC and on Thursdays she sees clients at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). She is passionate about the mind-body connection and the way trauma impacts our bodies, and she strives to bring awareness on sexual violence in the Hispanic community. Ana is currently in the process of getting licensed as a LMFT and is under the supervision of a AAMFT approved supervisor. 

Sadie McDaniel, LMSW, Clinical Therapist (they/them/theirs)

Sadie has been with SAC since 2021. Sadie received their Masters in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in Nashville and their Bachelors in Psychology from Flagler College in Florida. They utilize evidence-based interventions including: Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Somatic and Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (S.A.F.E EMDR). Sadie uses a client-centered approach and is skilled at cultivating safety and holding space for clients, enabling them to show up as human beings. Sadie specializes in gender affirming and sex-positive therapy for adolescents and adults.

Robyn Chaffee, LPC-MHSP (temp), NCC, First Response Clinical Therapist (she/her/her)

Robyn started at SAC as an intern in 2019-2020 and has been an official member of the team since 2021. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lock Haven University, located in Pennsylvania. Robyn utilizes an eclectic approach with a belief that not everyone fits into a one-size-fits-all box of treatment. Some of these interventions includes Somatic and Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (S.A.F.E EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Sandtray Therapy, Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She also utilizes psychoeducation, mindfulness, and somatic work in her practice. Robyn uses a client-centered and strengths-based approach to meet the clients wherever they are at in their healing journey. Robyn works with clients who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual violence, chronic pain, eating disorders, and self-harm/suicidal ideations.

Karishma Katrak, LPC-MHSP (Temp), NCC, Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

 

Lan White, LMSW, Clinical Therapist (she/they)

Lan began working at SAC in August 2022. Lan received her Master of Social Work and M.Ed. in Human Sexuality from Widener University and Bachelor of Science in Sociology with minors in Women and Gender Studies and African American Studies from Austin Peay State University. Lan engaged in interpersonal violence awareness and prevention during their undergraduate years. They utilize Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Treatment Model, and use a person focused lens to empower survivors. Lan sees youth aged 13 to 17, adults, and non-offending caregivers. She particularly enjoys working with LGBT/questioning persons and providing gender-affirming, sex-positive care.

Miranda Buell, M.S., Clinical Therapist, Thistle on the Inside (she/her/hers)

Miranda has been with SAC since September of 2022. A Nashville native, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative writing from Belmont University and her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Play Therapy Specialization from Lipscomb University. She is trained in Somatic and Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (S.A.F.E. EMDR); Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); and Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC). Miranda has received additional training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and often uses play and art therapy techniques with clients of all ages. In her practice, Miranda works with adolescents, young adults, and adults. An integral part of her role is working with Thistle Farms to provide group and individual counseling services to incarcerated individuals who are a part of the Thistle on the Inside program at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (formerly the Tennessee Prison for Women). Miranda utilizes a primarily client-centered and relational approach and is passionate about creating safety in the counselor-client relationship and allowing clients the space to heal at their own pace.

Maryam Fakhruddin, Clinical Therapist (she/her/hers)

Maryam has been with SAC since November of 2022. Maryam received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago and her Bachelors in Social Work at Belmont University in Nashville. She utilizes evidence-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical-Behavior Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to help empower clients to see themselves as an agent of change. She practices from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens to cultivate a safe space for clients. In her practice, she sees adult clients affected by sexual violence. Maryam is passionate about serving and bringing awareness on the impact of sexual violence to the Muslim community.

Ashley Moore, M.MFT, Clinical Therapist, Cherished Hearts (she/her/hers)

Ashley has been with SAC since 2021. Ashley received a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Trevecca Nazarene University and shortly after completed a master's degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Ashley is passionate about practicing a holistic approach to therapy, focusing on the way that the communities we are a part of are impactful. She adjusts her approach to the needs of whoever she is seeing and meets clients where they are at in their healing journey. Ashley is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Attachment (TF-CBT), Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC), and Somatic and Attachement-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (S.A.F.E. EMDR). Ashley utilizes skills from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, somatic work, mindfulness, and an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach. Ashley primarily works with people of all ages, including children, adolecents, young adults, and adults. Ashley also works with the Cherished Hearts Court as one of the clinicians.